Notable People
- Ebenezer Allen, American soldier, pioneer, and member of the Vermont General Assembly; born in Northampton.
- Jeanne Birdsall, children's author, best known for her debut novel, The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
- William Cullen Bryant, 19th century author and newspaper editor
- Mary-Ellis Bunim, television producer and co-creator of MTV's The Real World and Road Rules
- Augusten Burroughs, author, his bestseller Running with Scissors describes his strange childhood in Northampton
- James Francis Cahillane, author, two Northampton histories: "The Best Place of All" and "On History's Front Steps"
- Paul Johnson Calderon, socialite, heir, and television personality best known for co-starring on The CW's High Society
- Eric Carle, children's book author and illustrator
- Lydia Maria Child, author of the Thanksgiving poem "Over the River and through the Woods"
- Chris Collingwood, lead singer of the band Fountains of Wayne
- Carol T. Christ, President of Smith College and Victorian Literature Scholar
- Calvin Coolidge, served as mayor of Northampton before becoming governor of Massachusetts and U.S. president
- Galaxy Craze, actress and author known for bestselling novel By the Shore.
- Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, published Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics from their Northampton studio
- Jonathan Edwards, 18c Congregational theologian, philosopher, leader of First Great Awakening and local pastor
- Herbert Gintis, economist
- Sylvester Graham, advocate of vegetarianism and namesake of the Graham Cracker
- Jonathan Harr, author of the A Civil Action
- Steve Herrell, ice cream innovator
- Jonathan Hunt (1738–1808), early Vermont pioneer, landowner, officeholder, born Northampton
- Jeph Jacques, creator of webcomic Questionable Content
- Tracy Kidder, author
- Michael Klare, author, professor and defense correspondent for The Nation
- Jason Loewenstein, singer, songwriter with indie-rock bands Sebadoh and The Fiery Furnaces
- Elinor Lipman, author
- Rachel Maddow, radio personality, MSNBC television host, and liberal political commentator
- Charles McCarry, author
- Stu Miller, Major League Baseball pitcher
- José Molina, former member, USA national Indoor field hockey team
- William Monahan, novelist and screenwriter
- Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon of the band Sonic Youth
- Lesléa Newman, author of Heather Has Two Mommies.
- Nerissa Nields, folk musician, author, and member of the band The Nields
- Alix Olson, spoken-word poet and owner of Subtle Sisters Productions
- David Pakman, host of the nationally syndicated political talk radio and TV program, "The David Pakman Show"
- Tim Petrovic, pro golfer
- Dr. Kyle Pruett, author and child psychiatry expert
- Nathaniel Raymond, human rights investigator and anti-torture advocate
- Jeffrey Rowland, creator of the webcomics Wigu and Overcompensating
- Liza Snyder, actress (Yes, Dear; Pay It Forward)
- Talisa Soto, actress
- Sojourner Truth, African American abolitionist and orator
- Kurt Vonnegut, author; died 2007
- Peter Wild, poet, author, and Professor of English at the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
- Mo Willems, popular children's book author
- Dar Williams, popular musician.
- Andrew Zimbalist, prominent sports economist and father of Jeff and Michael Zimbalist
- Jeff Zimbalist, documentary filmmaker and Tribeca Film Festival award winner
Read more about this topic: Northampton, Massachusetts
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